Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2017

The Board denied entitlement to ratings higher than 10 percent for bilateral knee disabilities since August 30, 2012.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right hand disability is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's right foot conditions, including osteoarthritis, plantar fasciitis, and metatarsalgia, are being remanded for further examination to determine if they are related to his service-connected thoracolumbar spondylolisthesis with spondylolysis and degenerative changes.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability did not have its onset in service and is not otherwise related to active duty. The claim for secondary service connection for bilateral lower extremity disability is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or continuity of symptomatology since service. The reduction of the Veteran's TBI rating from 10 percent to non-compensable was improper, and the 10 percent rating is restored.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of service connection for cervical spine, right lower extremity condition, left lower extremity condition, and lumbosacral spine conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his right shoulder sprain with osteoarthritis and degenerative changes of the lumbosacral spine are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining treatment records, providing a new VA examination, and considering all evidence.

The Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the left shoulder, and whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen his claims for right shoulder disability and acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as depression), are being remanded due to incomplete development. The issue of entitlement to special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound is also being remanded.

The Board denied service connection for right and left knee disabilities, finding no evidence of onset during or within one year after service. The Veteran's current osteoarthritis was attributed to his years of naval service.,Service connection for COPD was also denied as the Board found no direct link between the Veteran's military service and his condition.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for increased ratings and service connection, with the majority of issues related to his bilateral hearing loss, rhinitis, right knee disability, back disability, and left knee disability. The case is being remanded due to new evidence received since the last supplemental statement of the case.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee instability and degenerative arthritis have been denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities. The preponderance of the evidence does not establish a direct relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is etiologically related to his military service. The Veteran meets the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection were denied. The lumbar spine disability was evaluated as 20 percent disabling prior to June 27, 2013, and 40 percent thereafter under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. For migraine headaches, a very frequent, completely prostrating attacks productive of a severe economic impairment were established beginning December 26, 2013. The hypertension was not shown to warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Board has determined that there is not sufficient evidence to establish service connection for a low back disability, including degenerative arthritis of the spine. The Veteran's single documented in-service injury did not result in chronic symptoms and he was not diagnosed with arthritis within one year of separation from active duty.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee osteoarthritis is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 10 percent prior to July 5, 2017 and 20 percent from that date. The evidence does not support a higher rating for the period before or after this date.